What could I possibly get out of joining a professional association?! Not so long ago, that is what I remember thinking. As nurses, whatever our role, we all have huge demands on our time (and headspace). We are expected to work long hours without good breaks, all while striving to maintain our professional standards, skills and knowledge to do our work effectively. We need to revalidate every 3 years and seek out the participatory study hours necessary to maintain this requirement. If you take a new job or develop a new service, there are additional learning needs to consider and if you are setting up as the first, for example, renal stone or andrology nurse in your Trust, finding your way can be quite a lonely business.
If only there was some way you could find study, training and competency-based courses relevant to your work? How great would it be to visit other established services and learn from nurses doing exactly the work that you want to deliver; where you could borrow their care plans and easily model your service on theirs? To have the support of colleagues all over the country who are only too glad to give you a hand, help you avoid their mistakes and encourage you to succeed?
Professional associations exist to provide for exactly these needs. Particularly as work-based educational budgets are so restrictive, getting the chance to undertake non-generic study, which really applies to your caseload, is a real struggle. However, your association provides you with an educational calendar of events, which are often free for you as a member. If you have been working in the same area for some time, your learning may have been restricted by the limits of the knowledge of those around you. If you attend a nationally accredited study day or conference, you can be assured that your knowledge is up to standard and share it with your colleagues when you get home.
My journey with the British Association of Urologicl Nurses (BAUN) began some years ago when I attended a study workshop. Nurse-led flexible cystoscopy was new to me (also new to the Trust!), so as the first nurse in my workplace to do it, I was feeling really out of my depth. To make things worse, it had been a struggle trying to get some of our consultants to see the value of a nurse-led service. As such, there was lots of resistance, which really was not doing much for my confidence. The workshop gave me the essential anatomy and physiology to improve my understanding and management of my patients and the practical skills sessions gave me the chance to practice cystoscopies on a simulation device (I was still terrified of learning with real patients). This meant that when I got back to work and had a training session with the consultant, my confidence had come on leaps and bounds. Furthermore, because I had made contacts with other nurses at the same stage and a bit further on than me, I did not feel so out on a limb learning this important skill. One of the best and most enjoyable parts of the day was actually the feeling of belonging and encouragement from the other nurses.
A year later, I was given some funding to attend a BAUN conference in Brighton where, aside from the educational element, I had the opportunity to pick up ideas about new products. I also found out about other urology nurses' roles around the country and it gave me lots of ideas about the next step in my career. I loved it but I was definitely not thinking about applying to be a BAUN Trustee (let alone President).
As I attended more study days, I got to recognise people and they me, so it became that I was meeting up with friends. It was great to be able to support people who needed it or who were just setting out. I remember one nurse was struggling to provide evidence for upbanding in her role. A few of us sent her our job descriptions and eventually she was able to make a good case, which was accepted by her managers. Things like this really make you realise the power of pooling your resources and working together can have.
Joining the BAUN board as a Trustee brought so many new skills, which I am still very much developing. We are all working nurses so the business planning, accounts, conference organisation and all the backroom business of running a national association is not something we are experienced in when we join. But learning and making it work is in our nursing DNA and we are so well-supported in our roles, such that new Trustees become expert Trustees very quickly. If you fancy it, I guarantee you will get so much out of joining your Trustee board and it is so enjoyable to be part of something outside of your regular working life. If you have a willingness to learn and you are passionate about your specialty, you definitely have what it takes.
But even if Trustee life is not for you, your professional association will help you do your daily work better and help you meet your training needs, whatever your career aspirations are. Your association can help you develop your academic writing, your confidence in speaking and presenting, team building, mentoring, communication skills and publishing. You can join networks to share information, advice and support, and inspire others with your achievements too. This is all available to you at a nominal monthly cost, which often can be claimed as an essential professional expense from your employer.
If you have an interest in urology or continence, there has never been a better time to join BAUN. We have discounts galore at the moment for new joiners and our newsletter, President's update emails and social media make it easier than ever to keep up-to-date—all for the price of a cuppa per month. We welcome physios, healthcare assistants and other non-registered nurse individuals as associate members (you just are not able to vote in our elections, but everything else is the same). See our website for more information.
There are so many different professional associations around that, even if BAUN is not the best fit for you, you will find another association that is. You will enjoy being part of it and your patients will benefit most of all.
So in answer to my original question about what a professional association can do for you, the answer, aside from education, support, guidance, mentorship, networking, professional development, friendship, belonging, opportunities, travel and fun, is…absolutely loads.